Program On 'Doylestown's Forgotten Explorer' To Be Held In March

The Doylestown Township Bicentennial Committee and the Doylestown Historical Society are presenting a special program on March 13 that will explore Doylestown's forgotten explorer.

The program, titled "Dr. William Edgar Geil: Doylestown’s Forgotten Explorer,” will be held at 7 p.m. at the Delaware Valley University Life Sciences Building, 700 E. Butler Avenue, Doylestown.

The program is free.

According to an event announcement:

Doylestown native William Edgar Geil (1865-1925) was a world-famous explorer, evangelist, author, photographer and orator. He is credited with being the first man to travel the entire length of the Great Wall of China. His travels also took him to Africa, the South Seas Islands, the Holy Land, the Greek Islands, New Zealand and Australia.

Geil documented his journeys with copious notes and photographs, and he produced 10 books. Following his death in 1925, Geil’s wife, Constance, locked away his study with all of his papers and photographs where they, along with Geil’s name, fell into obscurity for more than 80 years until they were donated to the Doylestown Historical Society.

The March 13th community event will include an introduction by Doylestown Historical Society president Stuart Abramson, plus a screening of a 40-minute documentary. There will be time for questions and answers, as well as several artifacts on display.

Light refreshments will be served.